Binding interactions between suberin monomer components and pesticides

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Biopolymer Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Biomacromolecules play a crucial role in pollutant sorption and environmental fate.
• Suberin, a prevalent biopolymer in plants, is a potential sorbent for environmental contaminants.
• Understanding suberin's interaction with pesticides is vital for environmental risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the sorption mechanisms of pesticides by suberin monomers.
• To analyze the interactions between suberin constituents and specific pesticides.
• To assess the sorption capacity of suberin for isoproturon, methomyl, and oxamyl.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of suberin monomers using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS).
• Sorption studies of pesticides (isoproturon, methomyl, oxamyl) using isolated suberin monomers.
• Molecular modeling to elucidate pesticide-sorbent interaction modes.

Main Results:

• Suberin exhibited the highest sorption capacity for isoproturon (33%).
• Methomyl and oxamyl showed significantly lower sorption (3% and <1%, respectively).
• Hydrogen bonding was observed between isoproturon and suberin, alongside van der Waals interactions; only weak van der Waals forces were found for methomyl and oxamyl.

Conclusions:

• Suberin monomers demonstrate selective sorption capabilities for pesticides.
• The interaction mechanism involves hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, influencing sorption efficiency.
• Glycerol, a suberin building block, impacts pesticide-sorbent interactions, suggesting structural complexity affects sorption.